TEHRAN: Iran has come under fire after multiple reports suggested that the republic has increased its uranium enrichment to 60%.
The worrisome news fell like a bomb in the Western capitals, which at once condemned Iran for the enrichment. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has accelerated its enrichment of Uranium and is close to developing a nuclear weapon.
US raise concerns
The United States has expressed deep concern about the development. White House National Security Council spokesperson said Iran’s efforts to obtain the nuclear weapon are destabilizing for the region already in flames.
“Iran’s nuclear escalation is all the more concerning at a time when Iran-backed proxies continue their dangerous and destabilizing activities in the region, including the recent deadly drone attack and other attempted attacks in Iraq and Syria and the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea,” the statement said.
What Iran’s uranium enrichment means for the world
A nuclear Iran will destabilize the region and will escalate already present conflicts. The Gulf states, primarily Saudi Arabia, have repeatedly said that they’ll obtain nuclear weapons if Iran does.
A nuclear-armed Iran will threaten Israel, and the US may want to pursue a military solution to the problem. US forces have come under attack multiple times in the Middle East and have already committed military resources to the region.
Although President Joe Biden has publicly avoided to talk war with Iran, American officials are pressing for a military action. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), for example, said in November that the Biden administration must undertake a “massive retaliation” against Iran.
Former defense officials and some other congress members have also expressed the same perspective to use force to oust the Iranian regime. A war with Iran, which is unlikely, will put the whole region at risk, and therefore, the US may have to act militarily to the threat.
